Jabber/XMPP: 25 Years of Digital Independence
This article passionately argues for digital independence through truly open standards, using XMPP as a 25-year example of resilient, interoperable communication infrastructure. It critically contrasts this with platforms like Matrix, which, despite being open-source, are accused of fostering single-vendor lock-in by controlling their APIs. The piece resonates with Hacker News's appreciation for technical depth and advocacy for decentralized, open systems.
The Lowdown
The author makes a compelling case for treating digital communication tools as essential infrastructure, advocating for collective ownership and open standards over proprietary, profit-driven services. Drawing parallels with physical infrastructure like roads and utilities, the piece argues that digital independence requires systems where self-hosting is possible and vendor lock-in is avoided, even from seemingly ethical open-source projects.
- Digital Infrastructure Imperative: The article posits that just as society demands ownership and control over physical infrastructure, digital communication tools must be held to the same standard, transcending national or corporate allegiances.
- Critique of 'Walled Gardens': It highlights that even privacy-focused services like Signal, while beneficial, still operate as centralized 'walled gardens' without true interoperability, leaving users vulnerable if the service fails or changes policies.
- Open Standards vs. Open Source: A crucial distinction is made between merely open-source software and truly open standards managed by standards-developing organizations (SDOs). Open source guarantees transparency but not necessarily interoperability or vendor independence.
- XMPP as a Paradigm: XMPP (Jabber) is presented as a prime example of a robust, extensible open standard, celebrating its 25-year history and its ability to adapt through XEPs (XMPP Extension Protocols) while maintaining vendor independence.
- The Matrix Contrast: Matrix is criticized for its approach, which, despite being open-source, is seen as creating a de facto single-vendor ecosystem (Element) due to its control over the API and specification, hindering true decentralization and interoperability.
- Evolution and Future of XMPP: The piece acknowledges XMPP's past struggles in adapting to mobile but showcases its current advancements, feature parity with modern messengers, and ongoing community efforts towards new features and a potential 'XMPP 2.0'.
The article concludes by underscoring XMPP's quiet endurance and resilience as the backbone for digital independence. It serves as a reminder that the true alternative to Big Tech's control may not be a new, centrally-controlled platform, but rather the open, decentralized standards that have been available for decades.